TNAG-0414-FCO40-460-Review-of-narcotics-problem-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 134

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER/CAT A

FM HONG KONG 19045ØZ

CONFIDENTIAL

.CONFIDENTIAL

1973

TO INMEDIATE FCO TELNO 75 OF 19 JANUARY INFO IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

ROUTINE UKMIS NEW YORK UKMIS GENEVA.

YOUR TELEGRAM 149 TO WASHINGTON.

NARCOTICS.

THERE ARE NO GROUNDS FOR THE ALLEGATION THAT HONG KONG BRITISH

OFFICIALS WORKING IN THE NARCTOICS FIELD ARE ALOOF TOWARDS THEIR

AMERICAN COUNTERPARTS. ON THE CONTRARY THE AMERCIAN CONSULATE-GENERAL

IN HONG KONG HAS ONLY RECENTLY, IN THE CONTEXT OF THIS CRITICAL REPORT, WHICH ALSO APPEARED IN OUR LOCAL PRESS, EXPRESSED EVERY SATISFACTION WITH THE CLOSE, CORDIAL AND PRODUCTIVE RELATIONSHIP

EXISTING BETWEEN AMERICAN AND HONG KONG OFFICIALS.

2. IN DEED THE UNITED STATES OFFICIALS IN HONG KONG HAVE ASSERTED

THEIR EMBARRASSMENT AT THIS REPORT TO OUR COMMISSIONER FOR NARCOTICS.

3. IN THE LIGHT OF THESE CIRCUMSTANCES THE QUESTION OF THE

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE BRINGING THIS MATTER TO THE ATTENTION

OF H.M.G. IN LONDON WOULD NOT APPEAR TO ARISE, AT LEAST, AS SEEN

FROM HONG KONG.

4. WE ARE UNABLE HERE TO GIVE ANY INDICATION AS TO HOW THIS REPORT

MIGH HAVE ORIGINATED.

FCO PASS COPY TO HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE LONDON

MACLEHOSE

FILES:

UND

MAID

HKIOD

N AM DEPT

MR WILFORD GIR D WATSON

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]

COPIES TO: MR C J TRAIN HOME OFFICE ROWNEY HOUSE

CONFIDENTIAL